North Korea Hails ‘Successful’ Test Of New Rocket Engine

SEOUL: North Korea has carried out a successful ground test of a new high-power rocket engine, state media said Tuesday, in a development that could advance Pyongyang’s weapons programme.

After supervising the test at the country’s Sohae satellite-launching site, leader Kim Jong-Un called on officials, scientists and technicians “to round off the preparations for launching the satellite as soon as possible”, KCNA news agency reported.

There has been speculation that North Korea might celebrate the October 10 anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers Party of Korea by launching a satellite.

Kim also called for more rocket launches to turn the country into a “possessor of geostationary satellites in a couple of years to come”, according to KCNA.